AS Whitco starts its 25th year in business, a celebration is to be held to start the milestone anniversary and pave the way for the next 12 months.
The Raj Restaurant in Kettering will play host on 1 November to Whitco’s party. Owner Goyas Miah has pledged that a percentage of the entire evening’s takings will be donated to the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA). Sadly, the most notable absence from the evening will be Jeff himself who succumbed to Motor Neurone Disease and dies in 2018.
Whitco director Vita Whitaker explained: “The Raj is a favourite place for the Whitaker family. Jeff helped Goyas to set up the restaurant in 1991.”
The Raj had a much smaller footprint back then. But it has grown in size and success with a loyal client following, from near and far. Goyas, like many restaurateurs benefitted from Jeff’s and Whitco’s food service, catering equipment knowledge and sound business advice.
Vita added: “Amongst all the cheers and congratulations on our birthday party night, we will celebrate our success and remember Jeff, who put us all there. I am sure he will be watching over us, as he never liked to miss out on a party. So, it only feels right to add some fundraising for the MNDA in support of others past and present who are suffering from this awful and very scary disease.
“The Raj will be donating a percentage of the whole night’s takings to MNDA, so whether you live in the area or not, please book a table and support us – for those who have never been before, I guarantee you will not be disappointed – or maybe just order a takeaway. If you can’t do either, please make a donation to the Motor Neurone Disease Association, quoting Whitco/MNDA/601532.”
It’s been an eventful year for Whitco. The Thrapston-based company picked up a national award for outstanding customer service from Ceda, the national catering distributors’ association for its work for Oxfordshire County Council. Whitco’s team picked up the pieces for local schools that were left stranded after the collapse of the construction and facilities management company Carillion.
Whitco has customer service and exceeding customer expectation at the core and all the staff naturally go that extra mile. ‘We Can Do’ is the mantra. An example of going that extra is a major project for West London University. Whitco converted a former gymnasium into a funky student refectory. Whitco’s work involved every aspect of the project from developing the brief, the tender, managing all contractors, designing the interior, staff training, manufacturing fixtures and fittings and up-cycling old equipment, even help with developing the menu. This was all done successfully in the face of a limited budget, tight timescales and shifting customer requirements.
The success of this project as well as many others during the life of Whitco has been pivotal in the company’s success; building long standing relationships and working partnerships based on trust and high standards which is what Whitco delivers and is what customers have learned to expect.
Tony Butler, Whitco’s MD added: “It has been the toughest two years in our company history, but we have come through it, the team have been amazing, I am very proud to lead them. We will start this memorable year on the 1 November with a party as opposed to ending the year with one, and our sales will start with an order book exceeding £2.5m. I am determined to make this the best year in Whitco’s history.”
Find out more about Whitco on 01832 735007 or visit the website www.witcoltd.com